13th September 2012 - Two Lesser Galaxies In Andromeda

[Double Kick Drum]

I managed to have a short session in clearer skies than a couple of days ago, with a view to second attempts at some of the objects that were previously obscured by clouds.

I started just before 10pm but twenty minutes of staring at the sky around NGC 7000 (the North American nebula) with and without filters produced nothing.

Luckily, the Andromeda galaxy NGC 404 (the Ghost of Mirach) was visible. Not easy but with averted vision, a small circular extension to the haze of Beta Andromedae (Mirach) best seen in my 15mm eyepiece. Additionally, this is one of the easiest objects to find in the entire night sky.

Even more difficult was NGC 891 (Caldwell 23), another galaxy further East in Andromeda. It is a side on galaxy but observations only revealed the feintest of small smudges with no shape discernable. I will revisit the two galaxies when they are higher in the sky, hopefully on a really transparent night. I may just be able to tease a little more out.

I finished off with my most Northerly DSO find, NGC 188 (Caldwell 1) in Cepheus. Although quite easy to find, I found the open cluster a little underwhelming. I managed to count a handful of feint stars and got a hint of milky haze just to one side of a kite-shape asterism of brighter stars that surrounds the cluster.

A clearer night and bigger telescope would go a long way with these three but I am happy I found them.

__________________________________________________ ______

Observing Session: Thursday 13th September 2012, 21:55 hrs to 23:20hrs BST

VLM at Zenith: 4.9 - 5.0

New - Revisited - Failed

[rory]

that n.a nebula is not playing ball eh dkd ? do i get a hint of aperture fever there sir .

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Nice report DKD. The N.A. nebula does not need that muc aperture, you need a wide field of view (4 degrees or more), and very transparent skies. NGC 404 is very nice, I think, but NGC 891 requires very good skies to see the full edge-on shape (with dust band) in my experience. I only managed to see the dust band once. Well done getting that galaxy. NGC 188 is underwhelming, and a challenge to spot, even in my C8, it is so sparse, and devoid of brighter stars. It is so anaemic, I always wonder why it is not in the Collinder list, which seems to specialise in anaemic clusters. It is one of the most ancient open clusters known.

[Double Kick Drum]

Nice report DKD. The N.A. nebula does not need that muc aperture, you need a wide field of view (4 degrees or more), and very transparent skies. NGC 404 is very nice, I think, but NGC 891 requires very good skies to see the full edge-on shape (with dust band) in my experience. I only managed to see the dust band once. Well done getting that galaxy. NGC 188 is underwhelming, and a challenge to spot, even in my C8, it is so sparse, and devoid of brighter stars. It is so anaemic, I always wonder why it is not in the Collinder list, which seems to specialise in anaemic clusters. It is one of the most ancient open clusters known.

Hmm, It makes me wonder that I may have not seen the true members of the NGC 188 cluster. Difficult to tell. I did compare to pictures of it and there seemed to be a match, all be it feinter by far.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I do not doubt you found it. It is just quite a difficult one. I think I spotted a faint sprinkling of stars in my 80mm from a very dark site in the mountains in Austria, but the C8 gives quite a bit more (understandably). The main point is realizing there is a cluster there at all.

[iamjulian]

Ghost of Mirach added to my list - thanks!